Page 70 of The Alpha's Forced Bullied Mate

“Well, it's not like you've exactly been a dad.”

It felt like I had stepped back in time with my own parents. How similar it was to things within my own family. I understood now why Hector and I were such a strong match. I understood what it would take to heal each other's paths and to make sure that our family accepted us. It was going to take strength in numbers and committed connection. It was going to take understanding and patience.

And it had to start with us.

It had to start withme.

I squeezed Hector's hand. “I really think you all ought to learn how to get along if you're going to be grandparents.”

The room felt so quiet that I could have probably heard a mouse drop a pin somewhere.

Hector stared at me in shock. “What did you just say?”

I smiled, chuckling as tears fell from my eyes. “You're going to be a dad. So, maybe you should start healing your relationship with your dad, don't you think?”

He trembled as he held me, reaching for my stomach and then reaching for my face. He pulled me into his arms, pulled me into his lap, and cradled me. He didn't speak, but I felt it in his soul. He was happy. We were going to be a family. A real family.

Agoodfamily.

Finally.

Chapter 23 - Hector

A few days after my parents returned, I was still in shock about becoming a dad. When did this happen? I kept trying to piece together the whole timeline as my mother sat next to Faye on the couch in the living room. There was no evidence of that tornado here. We'd done a great job of cleaning it up. And we hadn't exactly told my parents yet about all Faye’s magical abilities.

All of that in due time. Right now, I was simply in awe of the things that were happening in front of me.

Mom was braiding Faye’s hair. “You have such lovely hair. What do you use for it?”

“I have a Patchouli oil upstairs that I like to use. Sometimes I make my own. Do you want the recipe?”

“I would adore the recipe.” Mom played with her tattered hair. “I feel like I ruined mine with all the bleaching.”

Faye nodded. “Yeah, it looks like there was some damage done, but the good news is you can just trim the ends and keep putting oil in it to heal it. It'll get better within a couple of years.”

Mom laughed. “A couple of years. I guess I can spare that much.” She rubbed Faye’s arm lovingly. “I always wanted a daughter.”

Who was this woman who was talking to my mate? When did she come back? And why did she come back? I didn't think I'd ever seen my mother in this kind of position. She'd never been motherly toward me, and she'd never been exactly much of a girlfriend or a wife to my father.

And to that end, my father wasn't much of a father either. Yet behind me, he was in the kitchen cooking something on thestove for all of us to eat. It was about mid-morning, and we must have all gotten up about an hour ago. The smell of coffee dotted the air. The sound of chatter came from the kitchen, where my father was on the phone with somebody. As important as it sounded, it seemed like he was wrapping it up. Then he started whistling. The telltale sound of pancakes flipping came next.

I poked my head into the kitchen. “Do you need help in there?”

Dad waved the spatula at me. “Get out of here. Go sit with your fiancée.”

My face heated up as I returned to the living room. My mother and Faye were so wrapped up in each other, so much that they hardly noticed I was there. Somehow, it didn't bother me.

I never thought in all my days I would ever have something like this occur. The only person missing was Aunt Gerta. But I wasn't exactly missing her right this second.

I must talk to her eventually,I thought.All in due time.

I cleared my throat as I sat down across from my mother and Faye. “What did Aunt Gerta say to you when you got here?”

Mom looked at me as if just realizing I existed. “Oh, she was making the usual complaints about how you are messy. And ruined her house.”

I shook my head. “I kept that house spotless.”

Mom looked solemn. “I know.”

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